Should I? Should I not?

People always ask, when do you send in a cover letter? or Do you need to send a cover letter in even if they didn't ask for one? The answer is yes, yes, yes. Always send a cover letter no matter what, unless the job description says "please do not send in cover letter" or if the company’s website doesn't allow you to post a cover letter. It is always better to send a cover letter even if not stated because most employers think it is expected and it looks really good, showing your research and knowledge. It also looks bad when you do not send one in and another applicant sends their cover letter in.

A cover letter is also a great way to introduce yourself and show how you can contribute to the company you're applying to and why you're not only the best candidate but you have the experience and knowledge they are looking for. So the best thing to do is try your best and get a cover letter done and send both the resume and cover letter, but do not forget to stop by the USF Career Services Center located on the UC 5th floor, so we can take a look at it and help you. Our drop in hours are Monday through Friday 11am- 2pm. 

-Aloha Nate

Fight Senioritis! There's still a lot of work to do!

Seniors, you're almost there!! As you get ready to graduate and begin reflecting on where you are going/what you are going to do after graduation, use the following as a basic checklist for things you should get done before you leave USF:

• Meet with a career counselor and plan a strategy to maximize your senior year/summer.
• Sign up for On-Campus Interviews on DonsCareers.
• Decide on your best option after graduation, and come up with one or two backup plans just in case.
• If you are considering graduate school pick up the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, CBEST, PRAXIS, or MCAT test bulletins.
• Attend Resume Writing and Interviewing Workshops.
• Learn market trends and salary expectations for your industry and career of interest.
• Gather relevant job application materials. (Resume, Cover Letter, References, Examples of Previous Work)
• Attend the Career Fair to network and discuss opportunities with Bay Area Employers
• Identify top skills/interests from past work experience to prepare for interviews.
• Set up a videotaped mock interview session to practice your skills.
• Use DonsCareers to identify job opportunities.
  
  Congratulations Seniors! You've worked hard your years here and deserve the best!!  

Inquiries and Internships

Hello all!

        As the Summertime approaches, I myself have been on the hunt for a good internship that would help me gain experience...not to mention, something nice to add to my resume! I went on DonsCareers and Internship Exchange, and got an idea of what kind of internship I was really interested in. From there, I started Googling away companies that I would like to intern at. I looked over my resume, wrote out a few cover letters (because they should be specific for each company you apply for), and sent out my inquiry emails! I expected to receive, “Thanks, but no thanks” emails back from the companies, but it was quite the opposite. I got a response! In fact, I have been scheduled for a face to face interview later this week. There is no harm in sending out emails saying you’re interested! One of the company managers actually said “Thanks for reaching out and showing interest!” Don’t lose hope, there’s still time! Just get a move on! Show you’re interested and get that internship! Lastly, if you would like to do a Summer internship, but cannot this year, you can still get a jump start on researching internships for the Fall semester!

Good Luck!

--Victoria

GRAD SCHOOL???

Are you thinking about going to grad school? Do you think it’s right for you? Is it needed for you to reach your ultimate goal? Need a game plan? Come into the Career Services Center on the UC 5th Floor if you answered yes or even hesitated to answer one of these questions. We have things that will help you in the tough process of grad school from exploring, to planning, to the application and more. Grad school is both important and expensive, not to mention a huge decision. If you are having trouble laying out your options or making a life changing decision come to meet with a counselor that will help you determine what might best fit you as an individual. Our office also provides handouts and online resources about the test process and different grad schools. You can also check out the Career Service Center Graduate School Link  for addition information or to start your grad school process. Don't hesitate, were only an appointment away! So Drop in and ask for some help. We welcome every student with open arms!

-Aloha Nate

1 Year Left Juniors...

Ok juniors, time to get crackin' if you haven't been already. This is a very crucial time in your college career and you need to make sure you have a plan to make senior year a lot less stressful. Here are some tips:

• Explore current occupational information in our online resources
• Identify internships in DonsCareers and Internship Exchange 
• Take the Strong, or CISS and the MBTI assesment tests to help you explore your career options
• Research possible graduate schools at the Annual Graduate & Professional School Fair.
• Understand admission requirements, timelines, and procedures for Grad Schools.
• Attend the Career Fair and find out what employers will be looking for.
• Talk to a career counselor about career options or graduate school.
• Create a LinkedIn Profile, the online professional networking community, and join USF LinkedIn group.
  
• Prepare or update your resume and get counselor feedback.
• Get a summer job or internship related to your major or career interests.

You can always stop by during our drop in hours to discuss these plans in more detail with a career counselor.

Best of Luck,
Rosie

Second Year Career Plans

How are those yearly action plans coming along? As promised, here is the next set of steps targeted to second year students. Essentially though, it is all about creating your individual action plan based on your individual needs.

Second Year:

• Find a part-time job, off-campus or on-campus, to build your work experience
• If you are undecided about your major, meet with a career counselor
• Work with a career counselor to clarify values, and identify preliminary career interest
• Read about careers in CSC Resource Library
  
• Attend the Study Abroad Fair in the Fall and Spring Semesters
• Ask a counselor to help you prepare or update a resume
• Go on an informational interview or job shadow someone in careers of interest.
• Learn how to network to get a job.
  
• Apply for an internship to begin fall semester of your junior year
• Take a leadership role in a student club or organization to build new skills and gain valuable experience.

Remember to stop by our office to review your plans!

Rosie

Confused?

Hello, all!

As the end of the semester nears, common thoughts are “Wow, this is going by a lot faster then I thought it would...” or “What am I going to DO?” Believe me, you are not the only one thinking this! If you are confused about what you want to do, or what you want to do with your major, there ARE resources available to you!
    -What Can I Do With This Major??
    -Career Planning Handouts
    -Curious about those "career tests" you've heard about?
Last, but not least, you are more than welcome to come by drop in hours (11am-2pm, Monday through Friday) to just talk it out, then we can schedule you an appointment with one of Career Counselors to delve deeper into career possibilities.

No time like the present!

--Victoria

THANK YOU LETTERS!!!

Thank you letters! How important do you think they are? To be honest, they are extremely important and believe it or not most people never think of writing a thank you letter after an interview. There are a couple of reasons why they are so important. First, it is a great way to show gratitude and thank the employer/recruiter for taking the time out of his or her day to meet with you. Second, which is the most important reason, is a thank you letter puts your name and face back into their minds when they are trying to make a decision on who to choose for the vacant position. Third, it shows you want the job while giving you a last chance to say a few things that you might not have mentioned in the interview. Lastly, if the position comes down to two people that have the same qualifications and one wrote a thank you letter and the other did not, most times than none the applicant with the thank you letter will receive the job.  

When writing a thank you letter you want to write it as soon as possible after your interview. It might also be smart to send them a thank you email as well the day after the interview just in case your letter gets lost. In the thank you letter you want to include when your interview was, what you talked about, something you never mentioned, and that you are still interested in the position. 

After thinking about what you need in your thank you letter, the question now becomes should I hand write it or type it. This is a very controversial issue. It honestly depends on the employer and what they like. I personally will always send hand written thank you cards because it is more personal and that’s who I want them to remember me by. For me the hand written thank you letter has helped me numerous of times in getting jobs and internships because the employer liked how personal I made them. But on the other hand some people like the professional thank you letter, typed and printed on resume paper. So when it comes down to it, it is ultimately up to you unless you are in KO's Hospitality class where it is required to type your professional thank you letters for the class. So ultimately decide depending on the situation you are in and no matter what you choose your thoughts and considerations in writing the thank you letter is more than enough! If you need some help writing them or want us to look over your thank you letters bring them in to drop in hours Monday-Friday 11am-2pm located on the 5th floor! 

Aloha- Nate

ELEVATOR PITCH!!!

Have you ever wanted to approach someone and talk to them at a career fair, group networking event, or even at a random venue like an elevator but did not know what to say? Or even what to do? Do not worry you're not the only one; this is one of the toughest things to do. Everyone has some kind of problem when they are trying to pull words out of thin air, while feeling comfortable when introducing and talking to their ideal employer or business partner. The perfect way to solve this problem is to create an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is normally a 15 to 30 second speech or pitch of who you are, what you do, why you're the best, and your call to action. This short summary speech of who you are will help break the ice and start communication in the lines of a possible job opportunity or future business endeavors.

The elevator pitch got its name because individuals who were seeking a job or future business endeavors would try and get into an elevator with a executive. In doing so they had a opportunity to talk to the executive from the first floor to the ideal top floor with no interruptions and no possible way for the executive to get out of the conversation. The elevator pitch can be used whenever you are meeting anyone but was ideally to get your foot in the door and land yourself a job. It is a great way to introduce yourself and give a summary of who you are. So if want to create one but do not know where to begin, this website will help. It is a basic template where you answer questions and it formats your elevator pitch for you. Website: http://www.15secondpitch.com/new/index.asp But it is essential to be prepared before attending an event and you should practice your elevator pitch now because you never know when it might become useful. So if you need any help creating your specialized elevator pitch, come into our office on the UC 5th floor during drop in hours which are 11am to 2pm Monday through Friday. Your elevator pitch could possibly land you a job that you could never imagine! 

Aloha- Nate

The Arts!

        Three years into my college career and I have seen peers drastically change their majors countless times because of the inner fight between their interest and what they think they should do for the rest of their life. Sure, we’ve heard all of the sayings about the need to love our careers, but at the end of the month the rent  still needs to be paid. So, why not have both? Are you looking for a career in the fine arts but don’t really know what goes into getting started? The Career Services Center is hosting an event that you might be interested in attending!

          This Wednesday, April 6th, from 5pm-6:30pm, in McLaren 252, there will be a photographer, videographer, actor, and writer speaking about how they broke into their fields and grew their careers. Here’s the opportunity to get real answers and see if a career in the arts is something you see yourself doing. Bring questions  or just come to listen! Who knows? Maybe this night will inspire your inner artist!

               Be informed!   Click here to see the calendar for all CSC events